Starter



F. H. WALKER.

STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2o, 1916.

Fg?. l

Patented 001. 12,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT fol-Fica i Y EEANK H. WALKER, 0E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoE or ONE-HALE To SAMUEL H.

GILBERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STARTER.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK I-I. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starters, of which the following is a specification. Y My invention relates to improvements in starting mechanisms for internal combustion motors vand the like. It has for one object to provide a new and improved form of starterv which will ,be self-contained, positive in its operation, simple and convenient in its control which will not add appreciably either to the weight or bulkiness of the motor and which can easily and conveniently be applied to automobiles and the like. Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time in the speciication.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through the starting cylinder;

Fig. 2 is a similar section through a modified form of starting cylinder.

Like parts are indicated by like letters in all of the figures.

is an automobile starting cylinder adapted to be mounted on an automobile frame, not shown, closed at one end by a cap E1 anchored to the frame by a coupling, not shown. It is closed at the other end by a cap E3.V This cap contains an enlarged cylinder like bearing portion E1. This is contained within a housing E5, which housing terminates in a guide sleeve E6 closed by means of a stuffing box E7 which permits the passage of the piston rod D12. The opposite end of the rod D12 is terminated by a coupling screw-threaded thereto, D11, to which is attached a Wire cable or any other suitable connecting means adapted to transmit motion from the rod D12 to the shaft of the automobile engine not shown, to rotate it. The piston rod D12 terminates in a plunger Es slidable in the chamber E, and this plunger E8 which is also a piston rod, carries the piston E9. This piston is rigidly attached thereto being in screw-threaded piston E1.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented Oct 12, 1920 Application'niea Novi-,mbarA 2o, 191e. serial No. 132,282. i i

cylinder E* and also a passage E11 com- L municating with the cylinder E1 in opposition to the passage E11, and passing through the wall of the housing E5 to a chamber E15, which chamberl is in communication with the'cylinder E. The passage E1 leads from the cylinder E1 to a spark plug E17, but this passage is closed by the plunger E8 until it has been withdrawn toward the right far enough for the left'hand end of the plunger to pass beyond the opening of the passage E1.

F is a false piston mounted on the piston E9. F1 is a wiping and stuffing or packing ring m engagement with the wall of the cylinder E and contained partiallybetween the false pistonvF and the piston E1 and projecting outwardly from them toward and in close engagement with the'cylinder wall. This false piston is held on the piston by any suitable means not here shown. F1 is a passage leading through the false piston F into the chamber F3 in the interior of that piston and closed on one side by the. This passage communicates at itsother end with the far end o f the cylinder E. F13 is a valve closing the passage F2. It is mounted on a stem F4 to be slid- -able in the false piston and the main piston and which projects beyond them. F5 is a pocket in the front wall of the main piston E'9 adapted to contain the valve when in the unseated position. The pin F* is adapted as the'piston moves toward the right to strike' the cap E1, whereas as the piston moves toward the left, to strike lthe cap E?.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated 'a modified form of cylinder. The cylinder G is closed at one end by the cap G1 which cap carries a control cylinder G3 and terminates in a guide sleeve G4. G1 in this case is a piston rod, and 'it extends clear through to carry able in the smaller cylinder G3.` I

supply passage. It communicates only withl the outer end of the cylinder G3 and theV the piston G7. Intermediate the ends of the rod, however, is a small sub-piston G8, slid- G9 is a only passage between is the passage G9, and

the driving pressure on the piston G7 isy through the cylinder G3. G10 is a passage leading from a point intermediate the two i ends of the main cylinder G through aspark plug G11 so that the scpark plug isv not exposed until the piston 7 considerable portion of its stroke.

M isa release port arranged near vthe end of the piston travel in the starting cylinder for the purpose ofV releasingthe pressure on the back side of the piston, and nally causing the entrapment of a certain amount. of air in the end of the cylinder to cushion the piston'. Y

The use and operation of my invention are Y as' follows 1 While the'engine is operating in the usual' manner, the sparks are fired, and the supply of combustible mixture is fed into theengine in Ythe normal. way. VThe compressor will operate to store air under pressure in the tank and this 'compressor maybe controlled in any suitable manner not shown.

YVhen Ythe operator wishes to start'rtlie engine, he opens the valve and permits air under pressure to flow in from-the storage tank throughv the' piping to thecarbureter where it isV mixed with a suliicient quantity of liquid combustible Vto makeit explosive. This -carburetedV mixture under Vpressure then flows into the starting cylinder, gradually forcing the piston back, thus slightly rotating the clutch sleeve so thatthe clutch teeth may come gradually into engagement.

This gradual movement of the piston continues until 'the plunger moves back far enough touncoverY the channel leading to the spark plug. The spark plug will meanwhile have 'been excited, and when the charge comes in Contact with the spark it Y be violentlyrforced to the rear by the presl `itsV stroke.

will Vbe exploded and the piston will then strikes the cap, it opens the valve and throws itback into'the previous position in the pocket as shown. j This permits'the gasto Vescape from the working side ofthe piston.

through the-cylinder receiving the pressure and Vpermits, the return spring tooperate to draw the parts back into the positionshown in the drawings. The :tact that the release has passed down av Vhen the -pin on theV pistonV valve is contained in the pocket prevents its being picked up by the outiiow or" air and assures that the passage would stay open Vuntil the piston had returned to its initial position when the pin strikes the wall of the `ing a. combustible charge thereto, Vunder a pressure, to start theV movement of the piston, and means for subsequently igniting the Y charge to increase the driving pressure upon' the piston, said means comprising an ignition device, a communication between this and the interior Vof the cylinder and means directly responsive to the movement of the piston for opening such lcommunication to permit the combustible charge to reachthe ignition device.

' :2. A self-startingdevice for explosive e11- gines comprising a lsubsidiary cylinder, a piston slidable therein, means for4 lsupplying an explosive charge' under pressure thereto and means for igniting suchcharge after the piston has commenced its travel under the influence of the pressure under which the charge is-supplied', said means comprising an ignition source, a closed communication between it and the cylinder, andv means directlyv responsive-to the movement -of the piston for opening suchcommunication.

3. A .self-starting device for explosive engines comprising a subsidiaryV cylinder, a piston slidable therein, means for supplying an explosive charge under pressure thereto and means for igniting such charge after the piston has commenced its travel under the influence of the pressure under which the 'charge is supplied, said means comprising an ignition source, a closed communication between it Vand the cylinder, and means responsive to the movement of the pistonY for opening such communication, said means "cap and thefvalve is again ready for the kiio comprising'a plunger carried by the piston and adapted normally to close the communication with the ignition means. 4. A self-starting device for explosive engines comprising aV subsidiary cylinder, a piston slidable thereim-means for supplying an explosive chargeV under pressure thereto, an ignition chamber, a spark plug 4contained therein, Vmeans for excitingV the spark plug, a connectionV between such chamber andthejcylinder, and means carriedV by the piston for normally interruptingsuch connection. Y

5. A self-starting devicetor explosive engines comprising a subsidiary cylinder, a

ing an explosive charge under pressure thereto, an ignition chamber, a spark plug Vpiston slidable'therein, meansv for supplyl contained therein, means `ior exciting the spark plug, a connection between such chamber and the cylinder, and means carried by the piston for normally interrupting such connection, the relative arrangement of piston, piston travel and piston carried means being such thatV the. interrupting means become inoperative before the piston reaches the end of its travel.

6. The combination with a cylinder and piston slidable therein of a cap closing one end 01"" the cylinder, an enlarged hollow barrel carried by said cap, a plunger mounted on the cylinder and slidable within such barrel, and a piston rod projecting outwardly from the end of such plunger, means for admitting a combustible'fluid undervpressure to the interior of such barrel, at the end of the plunger removed from the piston, a passage contained within the cap leading from such end of the barrel to the cylinder, an ignition chamber and a passage leading from it to the cylinder, a spark plug in the ignition chamber, such passage being closed by the plunger, the plunger being shorter than the total piston travel.

7. The combination with a cylinder and piston slidable therein or a closed cap for one end of the cylinder, a cap at the other` end of the cylinder, and a piston rodA extending out through it, means for exerting a pressure upon the piston rod side of the piston, a valve in the piston normally closed, a pocket in which the valve is contained when open, means projecting beyond the piston adapted to engage the closed cap to open the valve when the piston reaches the end or its excursion.

8. The combination with a cylinder and piston slidable therein of a closed cap for one end of the cylinder, a cap at the other end of the cylinder, and a piston rod extending out through it, means for exerting a pressure upon the piston rod side of the piston, a valve in the piston normally closed, means projecting beyond the piston adapted to engage the closed cap to open the valve when the piston reaches the end of its excursion, a port in the cylinder wall adjacent the closed cap adapted to be closed by the piston, substantially at the end of its excursion toward the cap.

9. The combination with a cylinder and piston slidable therein of a closed cap for one end of the cylinder, a cap at the other end of the cylinder, and a piston rod extending out through it, means for exerting a pressure upon the piston rod side of the piston, a valve in the piston normally closed,

`means projecting beyond the piston adapted to engage the closedcap to open the valve when the piston reaches the end of its excursion, a pocket in which the valve 1s adapted to be contained, with protective.

means for preventing direct contact with the gases as they rush out from the pressure side of the cylinder through the valve con trolled apertures.

10. rI`he combination with a cylinderl and a pistonslidable therein of a sub-cylinder of smaller cross-section than in the 'main cylinder, a piston rod extending froml the piston out through the sub-cylinder and a small piston carried by the rod, means for introducing a combustible gas under pressure into the sub-cylinder upon that side of the sub-piston farthest removed from the main piston, means for continuing the introduction of such gas as the piston moves back, ignition means located in the wall of the main cylinder adapted to be closed by the piston until it has made a portion of its travel.

11. The combination with a cylinder and piston slidable therein of a closed cap for end of the cylinder, and a piston rod extending out through it, means for exerting a pressure upon the piston rod side of the piston, a closed chamber within the piston, a valve in the piston chamber normally closed, means projecting beyond the piston adapted to engage the closed cap to open the valve when the piston reaches the end of its excursion.

12. The combination with a cylinder and piston slidable therein of a closed cap for one end of the cylinder, a cap at the'other.

end of the cylinder, and a piston rod extending out through it, means for exerting a pressure upon the piston rod side of the piston, a closed chamber within the piston, a valve in the piston chamber normally closed, means adapted to open the valve when the piston reaches the end of its excursion.

13. The combination with a cylinder and piston slidable therein of a closed cap for one end of the cylinder, a cap at the other end of the cylinder, and a piston rod extending out through it, means for exerting a pressure upon the piston rod side of `the piston, a closed chamber within the piston, Va valve in the piston chamber normally closed, means projecting beyond the piston adapted to engage the closed cap to open the valve when the piston reaches one end of its excursion, and to close it when it reaches the other end of its excursion.

14. The combination with a cylinder and piston slidable therein of a closed cap for one end of the cylinder, a cap at the other end of the cylinder, and a piston rod extending out through it, means for exerting a pressure upon the piston, a valve in the piston normally closed, a closed chamber within the piston inclosing said valve, a

valve stem extending through the entire vone end Yof the cylinder, a cap at the other il Y Y v 1,355,830

gage the cap at one end of the cylinder in the presence oftw Witnesses this 10th to open Ythe valve when the piston reaches day Of- NOVBlf-bel, ,1916.V Y Y that end of its excursion, and' ada Qtedto ngage the cap at the otherendof thle Cylnr FRANK HT WALKLR' derto close the valve when the piston -fVVtnesses` reachesmhat end of its excursion'. `LAUREL-RLY DOREMUS, Intestmony whereof I ax'mysgnature n MINNIE M. LINDENAN. 

